Generating power plant



June 7, 19270 1,631,257

. J. FISHER GENERATING POWER PLANT Filed Nov. 6. 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet l film; 552

[A Y INVENTOR ATTORNEY WITNESS- l I 7 I June 7, 1927. J. FISHER 631 257 GENERATI NG POWER PLANT Filed Nov. 6. 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 M I flzajimflw WITNESS: ATTORNEY June 7,1927. v 1,631,257

J. FISHER GENERATING POWER PLANT Filed Nov. 6. 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 L9 /7 if 52 Jzz/z'az His/7e!" INVENTOR 1,6 1,257 June 7, 1927. J FISHER I 3 GENERATING POWER PLANT Filed Nov. 6. 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 l atente d June 7, 1927.

UNITED STATES JULIA FISHER, F BOLCKOW, MISSOURI.

GENERATING POWER PLANT.

Application filed November 6, 1925. Serial No. 67,849.

This invention relates to power generating plants of the character in which the force of the wind is utilized for the operation of an electric generator, so that current supplied by the latter may be used for charging storage batteries and other purposes.

To this end, the invention provides novel means for operating the generator from the mill fan and for collecting the generated current, so that the latter may be conducted to a convenient point for use, together with means for automatically controlling the operation of the fan to prevent injury to the generator, and for manually stopping and holding the mill inactive.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention further includes the following novel features and details of construction, to be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is an elevation of the invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view showing by dotted lines different positions of the mill vane.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line 3 3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a similar view on the line 44 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a like view on the line 5-5 of Fi re 2.

igure 6 is an enlarged fra entary sec tion taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 2.

Figure 7 is a detail elevation of the vane operating means.

Referring to the drawings in detail wherein like characters of reference denote corresponding parts, -,the reference character 10 indicates the tower of the mill, upon the top of which is mounted a sleeve or housing 11 which has extending therefrpm an annular flange 12. This flange is spaced inward from. the upper edge of the sleeve so as to providea seat 13 upon which is mounted the mill head 14.

The head 14 is recessed as at 15 to accommodate the flange '12 and interposed between the seat 13 and the under face of the head 14 are anti-friction devices 16 so that the head may freely rotate horizontally.

Mounted upon the head 14 is a shaft 17 which supports the wheel-or fan of the mill and this wheel or fan includes a hub 18 which is mounted upon a bearing sleeve 19 extending from the head 14. Secured to the hub 18 by means of radially extending arms 20 is a ring 21. Radially disposed arms 22 also extend from the hub 18' and carry at their outer ends a ring 23. Pivotally mounted between the inner and outer rings 21 and 23 respectively upon pintles 24 and 25 respectively, are blades-26. These blades are thus capable of pivotal movement radially of the wheels S0 as to present more or less reslstance to'the wind and controlthe speed of rotation of the wheel.

The blades 26 are adapted tof be automatically adjusted so as to automaticall control the speed of operation of the whee and for this purpose each of the pintles 24 has connected thereto a crank arm 27. The arms 27 are mounted in bearings-28 carried by a governor ring 29, the latter being capable of rotary movement with respect to the wheel and when rotated in one direction will fold the blades. so as to decrease the wind resistance and when rotated in an opposite direction'will extend the blades to increase such resistance. To accomplish this there are provided diametrically located governors whlch comprise weights 30 pivotally secured as at 31 to.the outer ends of arms or links 32. The inner ends of these arms or links are rigid upon pivot pins 33 carried by the rmg 21. Also rigid upon these pins 33 are links 34 whose inner ends are provided with elongated slots 35. These slots engage over pins 36 extending from the governor rin 29.

The weights 30 upon opposite sides 0 the Wheel have connected thereto inwardly extending rods 37 whose inner ends are connected by springs 38, the rods being adjustable by means of turnbuckles 39.

As thus far described, it will be seen that as the speed of rotation of the wheel increases, the weights 30 will move outward I .by centrifugal force, the said movement being yieldingly resisted by the springs 38. As the weights move outward,the pivots 33 will be rotated so as to move the arms 34 and proportionately rotate the governor ring 29. Movement of this ring will move the blades 26 pivotally accordin to the degree of rotation of the ring. fie speed of operation of the wheel will thus be automatically controlled.

The wheel is designed .to operate a generator 40 which is mounted upon the head 14 and which is connected to the wheel shaft 17 by gearing 41, the latter being mounted in a gear box 42. This box is adapted to form an oil reservoir and is provided with a plug closed filling opening 43 and a drain cook 44.

The housing 11 of the tower has secured around its upper end a preferably inclined annular flange 45 and secured to this flange upon an insulating strip 46 is a collector ring 47 which is designed to receive current from the generator 40.- For this purpose there is provided a contact arm 48 which is pivotally mounted as at 49 upon the head 14 and which is yieldingly forced into contact with the collector ring 47 by a spring 50.. A conductor 51 connects the arm 48 tive to the direction of the wind by means of a spring55. Oneend of this spring is carried by an arm 56 which is rigid with the head 14, while the opposite end of the spring is secured to an arm 57 carried by the vane 54.

The inner end of the head 18 of the Wheel carries a brake drum 58 and surrounding this drum is a brake band 59 which is yieldingly supported as indicated at '60 Extending through the ends 61 of the band is a pin 62 which carries a head 63 at one end. The opposite end of this pin is mounted in the support 64 and is provided with an adusting nut 65. A spring 66 surrounds the pm between the ends til-of the band. By reference to Figure 6 of the drawings it will beseen that pressure against the head 63 of the pin 62 will contract the brake band so that the latter will, engage the brake drum 58 and hold the wheel against rotation.

Operation of the brake band 59 is effected by the vane 54 and for this purpose, the vane has extending'therettrom a right angled arm67 which, when the vane is moved pivotally engages the head 63 to contract the brake band 59 as previously stated.

Secured to the arm 67 is one end of a chain or cable 68 Which-passes over a horizontally disposed guide ulley 69 and a vertically disposed guide pu ley 70. This chain orv cable extends downward around a. drum 71 which is mounted upon a shaft 72 carried by suitable bearing rackets 7 3- which are secured to the tower 10. The shaft 72 is vane 54 inward as indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 2 of the drawings and apply centrifugal governors carried by and located ernors to resist outward-movement of said the brake. The action of the vane in this position would be to move the wheel edgewise to the wind and thus hold the wheel into inactive position until the vane is released. The wheel may thus be held against operation when not in use. The chain 68 is preferably provided with a. swivel cou pling 75 to prevent twisting.

Secured to the governor ring 29 is an arm 76 which is adapted to engage one of the arms 20 of the ring 21 and limit independent rotary movement of the ring 29 in one direction when the governor weight 30 moves outward.

- The invention is susceptible of various changes in its form, proportions and minor details of construction and the right is herein reserved to make such changes as properly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention what is claimed is 1. In a windmill, a horizontally rotatable head, a wheel mounted upon the head, pivotally mounted blades included in the wheel, an independently'rotatable annular member carried by the wheel, me'ans connecting said member and blade to move the latter pivotally when the annular member is rotated,

upon diametrically opposite sides of the wheel and controlled by the speed of rotation of said wheel, yieldable means extending across the wheel and connecting the gov- 1 00 governors and means connecting the governors and annular member to rotate theilatter when the governors are operated.

2.1a a windmill, a rotatably mounted wheel including spaced annular members 1 rigidv with the wheel, blades mounted for pivotal movement bet-ween the spaced annular members, crank arms extending from the blades, an independently movable ring carried b the wheel and operatively connected to eacli of the crank arms whereby the latter may be rotated to adjust the blades, centrifugal governors connecting one of the s aced annular members and the indepen entl movable ring to move the crank arms and a 1155 just the blades pivotally and spring means to resist movement in one direction.

. r. 3. In a windmill, a rotatably mounted wheel including spaced annular members rigid with the wheel/blades mounted for pivotal movement between the spaced annular members, crank arms extending from the blades, an independently movable ring carried b the wheel and operatively connected toeac of the crank arms whereby the latter may be rotated to adjust the blades, links ivotally connecting one of the spaced annuar members and the independently mot'a'ble ring, an arm extending from one end of each of the llIlkS, a weight pivotally connected to mer es? the outer end of each of the arms whereby centrifugal action Will move the ring in one direction to pivotally adjust the blades and yieldable means connecting the Weights to resist such movement.

4. In a Windmill, a rotatably mounted Wheel including spaced annular members rigid With the Wheel, blades mounted for pivotal movement between the spaced annular members, crank arms extending from the blades, an independently movable ring carried by the Wheel and operatively connected to each of the crank arms whereby the latter may be rotated to adjust the blades, links pivotally connecting one of the spaced annular members and the independently movable ring, an arm extending from one end of each of the links, a Weight pivotally connected to the outer end of each of the arms whereby centrifugal action will move the ring in one direction to pivotally adjust the blades and yieldable means extending across the face of the Wheel and connecting the Weights to resist such movement.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JULIA FISHER. 

